After The Race

The day or week after the first race is a critical moment for new runners. It's a time when they get to choose whether they will continue the progress they have made or just let it slip away. They must choose between just being inspired by the running experience or whether they will convert that inspiration into real growth and long term change.

I am often asked by new runners what their new goal should be after they have completed their 5k or 10k race. My usual recommendation is that they quickly choose a new goal that will keep them on track and help ensure they continue their fitness and growth. My suggestion is almost always followed by the following statement and question: "I really don’t think I can push myself more. What is wrong with just staying active by maintaining my current schedule of running 2 or 3 times a week? Why do I need to set new distance or speed goals?"

What I share with them is the following and if you can internalize this it can forever impact your running performance:

It's ok to continue your regular running schedule after a race as long as you keep reminding yourself that the real goal is to always be focused on increasing either speed or distance. If you aren't making any increases right now it's just because you are using this maintenance time for recovery. In this way you are continuing your growth even during this holding period where you not running longer or faster. This is true because when you have the right intent and focus, the recovery time itself counts towards your growth.

The problem is that our bodies try to limit our growth. Our inner voice tells us that we can't take on more and that it's ok to just stay where we are. But it's a lie. It's not the truth. We can always do more and the proof is evident by just looking in the mirror. Look carefully and see the person on the other side who also thought only 8 weeks ago that they could never finish 3 or 6 miles.

G-d created us in a way where we can't really stay in the same position. If we are not in growth mode we will automatically be falling. Runners who try to stay forever in maintenance mode will at worst eventually stop their running or at best cut themselves short by not using the running experience to the fullest. It's true that running can help us maintain our fitness and running twice or three times a week is a great accomplishment. However running is not just about exercise. It’s an opportunity to continuously, week after week, step after step, remind ourselves that in personal and spiritual development we must always be focused on growing. Using the running to drill this into our bodies each week is priceless and can be life changing. With this benefit of spiritually focused running why would anyone want to run any other way?